EP0955437B1 - Fixing method and device with a ring for panels - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for fixing at least one rigid panel on a support structure, and in particular one or more panels of glass or composite material, on a rigid structure, such as a building stud (building, marquise or the like ).

In a known manner, the panels are fixed on a rigid structure (such as a vertical or horizontal upright), by means of an elongate connecting element, generally in the form of a bolt or screw, the proximal end of which ( the panel side) comprises a head capable of abutting on the edges of an opening provided on said panel, and whose distal end comprises means (such as nuts) for securing the elongate element on the structure.

For glass panels consisting of a single sidewall, these known fastening means are relatively satisfactory, except that the screw must first pass through the opening provided in the panel, on the opposite side to the structure, compared to the panel. There are cases where reduced accessibility causes inconvenience to the installer.

In addition, when the glass panel consists of several flanks (or sheets) contiguous, for example in the case of double glazing, the known fastening means, as described above, have several disadvantages.

Firstly, the sealing means are difficult to implement and expensive, given the complexity of the structure and the thickness of the set of adjoining panels, if one wants to ensure a perfect seal.

In addition, there are provided in each of the glass flanks called to form a single panel, openings for cooperating with the screws or the fixing bolts.

At the time of installation of the fixing screws, the openings made from one side to the other must be exactly opposite, with a very low tolerance. Now, the drilling of the holes in the glass flanks is an operation all the more difficult and expensive that the tolerance is small. Any offset between two openings provided respectively in two contiguous flanks, affects, or even makes impossible, the establishment of fixing screws and sealing means. For example, the two respective axes of the openings may not be parallel or it happens that the openings have a different diameter.

Finally, in the case of complex panels of the double glazing type, in which two parallel glass panels are fixed at a distance from each other, the disadvantages mentioned above are all the more troublesome. Indeed, the distance separating the two parallel panels makes it even more difficult to fix the screw on the panels, and also increases the risk of air entering the dehydrated space delimited by the two glass panels.

The patent application EP-A-506,522 describes a device to overcome the problem of positioning holes by proposing an eccentric ring adjustment system.

The major disadvantage of this system is that its large size means that a large part of the parts of the device must be disposed in the space defined between the two substrates of the double glazing.
Consequently, this device is not suitable for simple panels or laminated structure where the two sides are joined.

We know, by the European patent application EP-A-340 089 , a laminated glazing panel comprising two glass flanks, one of which is traversed by a fixing element.

This element, intended for screwing the glass panel onto the structure, is composed of a hollow and threaded cylinder terminated by a washer projecting radially and disposed between the two sides and abutting the periphery of the hole on the inner side.

If such a device makes it possible to avoid any unsightly outcropping of the fastening elements on the outer face of the panel, it nevertheless has certain disadvantages.

The thickness of the washer disposed between the two sides is likely to pose problems of adaptation of the second sidewall on the first and requires special precautions binding during the bonding of the intermediate film which consists of three different films.

In addition, the device does not allow the mounting of a type of fastening ball or elastic on the support structure, able to allow mobility of the glass panel to cash some constraints, for example expansion.

Furthermore, it is known, by the patent application DE-A-43 25 024 , a device adapted to fix on a support structure a set of two laminated glass flanks, one of which has a hole. An element, formed of four complementary L-shaped parts seen in section, is inserted into the opening by successively rotating the parts that bear against the second sidewall.
If such a device solves the assembly tolerance problem referred to above, it nevertheless has disadvantages.
It is complex to use and relatively expensive to manufacture. The operator must demonstrate a certain dexterity to implement this device which also claims, given the functional surfaces it has, a precision and a very demanding machining quality.
In addition, this known device necessarily requires the presence of two sidewalls for a panel since the complementary parts bear against the corresponding face of the second sidewall.
Finally, the element inserted in the opening, being formed of four separate parts, does not have a maximum rigidity. Even a tight fit of the various parts of the assembly can not guarantee the total absence of play between them. On the contrary, a minimum clearance is necessary to facilitate the pivoting of the parts during their installation, which can be detrimental to the reliability of the assembly.

In the prior art there is also the patent application French FR-A-2732730 which discloses an attachment device for fixing a laminated glass panel to a supporting structure. Nevertheless this device is not easy to install.

In this context, the present invention provides a method and a device for fixing a rigid panel, consisting of one or more sidewalls including glass, on a structure, which are simple to implement, allow a perfect seal, and which further facilitate and simplify the realization of the openings provided on the panel or panels.

• d'une part, à des moyens de butée coopérant avec une surface complémentaire de la dite ouverture, prévue dans le premier flanc du panneau rigide, comportant un élément annulaire qui présente une surface extérieure en forme de tronc de cône, de forme complémentaire à la dite ouverture du premier flanc et qui vient s'appuyer en butée contre la surface intérieure périphérique de la dite ouverture traversante du premier flanc du panneau rigide,
• et d'autre part, à des moyens de blocage,

caractérisé en ce que le dit élément annulaire est une bague en matériau déformable élastiquement, tel que de l'aluminium ou équivalent, présentant une fente et des bords, de façon à ce que, par rapprochement des bords l'un vers l'autre, le plus grand diamètre de la bague devient légèrement inférieur au diamètre de l'ouverture prévue dans le flanc distal du panneau rigide feuilleté.To this end, the present invention relates to a fastening device on a support structure of at least one rigid glass panel, comprising a first side having a through opening, having a cross section truncated cone, a second side without opening plated and glued on the first sidewall along a common plane on the opposite side to said support structure, said opening having a diameter towards the support structure smaller than its diameter on the side of the common plane, said fixing device comprising an elongated connecting element having a proximal end oriented towards the rigid panel, and an elongate end oriented towards said support structure and having securing means on said support structure, said fixing device having the proximal end of the associated elongated element:

• on the one hand, stop means cooperating with a complementary surface of said opening, provided in the first flank of the rigid panel, comprising an annular element which has an outer surface in the form of a truncated cone, of complementary shape to the said opening of the first flank and which abuts against the peripheral inner surface of said through opening of the first flank of the rigid panel,
• and on the other hand, to blocking means,

characterized in that said annular element is a ring of elastically deformable material, such as aluminum or the like, having a slot and edges, so that, by bringing the edges towards each other, the largest diameter of the ring becomes slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening provided in the distal flank of the rigid laminated panel.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale du dispositif de l'invention pour la fixation d'un ensemble de panneaux de verre à structure feuilletée et à double vitrage ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus de l'élément annulaire déformable utilisé dans la réalisation de la figure 1 ;

The invention will be better understood in the light of the description which follows, referring to an illustrative but nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• the figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the device of the invention for fixing a set of glass panels with laminated structure and double glazing;
• the figure 2 is a top view of the deformable annular element used in the realization of the figure 1 ;

With reference to the figure 1 , the fixing device of the invention is described below in the application to the attachment of a set of glass panels, of the type comprising on the one hand a laminated structure panel comprising two or more sidewalls or plates of placed against each other, and secondly a double-glazed panel, spaced and parallel, on a support structure which is not shown for the sake of clarity, and which is any and known in itself. For the sake of understanding, the structure comprises for example vertical uprights and / or horizontal metal.

The set of glass panels bears the reference 1, while the fixing device is referenced 2.

Hereinafter, the term proximal is defined as referring to an element near or turned towards the glass panels, while the distal term relates to an element that is distant from them, that is to say close to or turned towards said support structure.

So, in the example of Figures 1 to 6 in a simplified way, the distal term refers to elements of the right part of the figures, while the proximal term refers to elements of the left part of these same figures.

The set of glass panels comprises on the one hand a laminated glazing panel consisting of two glass flanks (or plates) bonded by one or more plastic films, namely a proximal flank 3 and a distal flank 4, which are clad with against one another, according to a common surface 5, and on the other hand a third sidewall (plate) 6 of double glazing glass, placed at a distance from the laminated panel 3-4, via a sealing gasket forming spacer. The set 1 of glass panels is of the type known in itself.

Also for the sake of clarity, the proportions and scale are not strictly adhered to in the figures.
The fixing device 2 according to the invention comprises an elongated element 8 whose proximal end comprises a head 9, in this case spherical, while the distal end comprises a thread 11 (male or female) capable of to be associated with securing means such as washers and screws, (not shown), of the elongate element 11 on said structure.

The spherical head 9 of the elongate element 8 is associated with locking means 12 comprising on the one hand a shell substantially cylindrical 13 inside which is disposed said spherical head 9, and secondly a locking nut 14, adapted to bear against the distal surface of the distal flank 4, by means of a washer 14a polyethylene . The nut 14 is screwed onto the thread provided on the outside of the cylindrical shell 13.

The spherical head 9 has a degree of freedom at a solid angle open to the structure.

In order to lock in position the head 9, and therefore the elongated element 8, inside the shell 13, is provided a washer / nut 16 screwed onto a thread provided inside the shell. The distal portion of the nut 16 is able to bear via a stainless steel ring, for example, on the proximal portion of the spherical head 9.

The fastening device of the invention also comprises abutment means, constituted in this case by an annular ring 17, with a thickness substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the thickness of the distal flank 4, namely that of the flanks of the flange. laminated panel, located closest to the structure. The annular ring 17 is screwed onto a thread 18 provided on the outer surface of the locking shell 13, and more particularly at the base of said shell.

The annular abutment ring 17 has an outer surface 19, in a radial plane, in the form of a truncated cone (seen in cross-section), of complementary shape to a through opening, provided in the distal flank 4 of the laminated glazing panel 3 4.

The abutment ring 17 is shown in plan view on the figure 2 on a smaller scale than the figure 1 . The ring ring 17 is open on a part of its periphery, over a distance, measured along the circumference, of a few millimeters, and between 3 and 10 mm and preferably of the order of 5 mm. The opening or slot has the reference 20.

The annular ring is made of elastically deformable material such as aluminum or the like, so that by bringing the edges 24 and 25 of the slot 20 closer to each other, the diameter of said ring is reduced. The larger diameter of the ring becomes, by pressure on the edges 24 and 25, slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole or the opening provided in the distal flank 4 of the laminated panel.

Notches 21, 22 and 23 are provided, for example three in number, uniformly distributed around the periphery of the ring, the notches being open in a centrifugal direction. The notches allow the elastic deformation of the ring in the direction of its circumference.

The opening provided in the distal flank 4 has a shape seen in cross section, in truncated cone, the top of which is on the side of the support structure. The radial outer surface of the locking ring 17 comprises a complementary surface 19 such that the annular ring, once in place, that is to say as shown in FIG. figure 1 is held in position and can not be displaced in translation in particular along the longitudinal axis A of the elongate element, that is to say transversely to the plane of the glass flanks. The radial outer surface 19 of the stop ring 17 constitutes a stop means cooperating with the inner peripheral surface of the opening provided in the distal flank 4. It should be noted that the respective disposition of the shell 13, the locking washer 16, and the annular abutment ring 17 is such that these three elements have their proximal surfaces substantially at the level of the plane 5 common to the proximal flank 3 and on the distal side 4.

The opening provided in the distal flank 4 has a diameter, on the side of the distal surface, facing the support structure, smaller than the diameter of the side of the common flank 5 of the respective proximal 3 and distal flanks 4.

The opening provided in the distal flank 4 has a diameter such that the stop ring 17 can penetrate into the opening, in the direction defined by the axis A, of the structure towards the sidewalls, when the ring has a reduced diameter. , that is to say when the ring is deformed by bringing the edges 24 and 25 closer to the slot 20.
The installation mode of the device of the invention is described below.

The glass flanks of the laminated glazing and double glazed panels are first assembled.

In a first step, there are made, on the distal sidewall 4, through apertures called to cooperate each with a fixing device of the invention. The proximal flanks 3 (without openings) and distal flanks 4 (with openings) are pressed against each other and held together by a plastic film, resin or equivalent. Then, we have the joints of seal (of the type of that referenced 7 on the figure 1 ), to fix the double glazing sidewall 6 away from the set of laminated panels 3,4.

Then, for each opening provided on the distal flank 4, an annular abutment ring 17 is introduced after deformation thereof, with a view to reduce its diameter. Once the ring is placed in the opening, it releases the clamping forces applied beforehand on the ring. This then resumes its shape and its initial diameter, to abut against the inner peripheral surface of the corresponding opening, provided on the distal side 4. The ring 17 is then in its position shown on the figure 1 . It is also possible, before the establishment of the ring 17, to have a few points of adhesive on the periphery of the opening provided in the proximal flank 3, so that the ring 17 is integral with the proximal flank 3 after installation and adjustment .

With reference to the figure 2 , the clamping forces are applied to the ring 17, using holes (26,27) provided on the upper surface of the ring, on each side of the slot 20, with the aid of a tool comprising two suitable arms to approach each other, for example in a tangential direction, to cause reciprocal approximation of the edges 24 and 25 of the slot 20, and thus the deformation of the ring for the reduction of its diameter.

The ring then has only one degree of freedom, namely in rotation about the axis A. Indeed, it can not move in translation towards the structure, because of the wedge effect constituted by the conical surfaces of the outer surface of the ring and the inner surface of the opening provided in the sidewall 4, nor in the direction away from the structure, because being blocked by the presence of the distal flank 3.
In a second step, is penetrated inside the ring, and is fixed on the latter by screwing, the locking shell 13, which has previously disposed the elongate member 8 and the lock washer 16. L shell assembly 13, elongated element 8, washer 16 is screwed until the washer 16 and the shell 13 come substantially at the common plane 5 between the proximal and distal 3 flanks 4.

It should be noted that the locking washer 16 is screwed to abut in its upper part (distal) against the proximal portion of the spherical head 9 of the elongate element 8 and in a given angular position of the elongate element 8. In the case of figure 1 the ball is locked in position such that the axis A of the elongated element 8 is perpendicular to the plane of the glass flanks.

Then, the sealing washer 14a is placed on the shell 13, so that said washer bears on the distal surface 4 of the distal flank 4, then the locking nut 14 is screwed onto the shell 13 so as to lock in place. position the shell 13 relative to the double glazing unit 3,4, and this by crushing the sealing washer 14a.

The embodiment of the invention using a deformable ring can also be used for a single (single-sided) or laminated (two or more sidewall) glass panel, or a double glazing panel with one of the substrates is flipped.

The deformable ring device can receive any elongated fastener element, whether it is spherical, elastic or fixed.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the method and apparatus of the present invention have several advantages over the prior art.

Thus, the fixing device simplifies the production of sets of laminated glass panels (consisting of two or more flanks pressed against each other) since it is sufficient to drill a single flank, the one closest to the structure ie the distal flank 4 of the figure 1 .

The fact that it is not necessary to pierce the second or the other flanks of the laminated panel, has as a corollary to remove any difficulty of tolerance when joining the two sides 3 and 4 of the laminated panel, with respect to the position of the planned opening in one of the flanks.

Furthermore, the seal is ensured perfectly since no communication is possible between the proximal portion (facing outward and weathered) of the laminated glazing assembly, and the distal portion facing the structure.

In addition, the air space defined by the laminated glazing and the double glazing panel is preserved from any communication with the outside since the device according to the invention does not require the complete drilling of one of the substrates.

The simplicity of the different parts used allows a quick and easy assembly of the system which can receive all types of fixing according to the requirements, be it ball or elastic, allowing adjustment or movement of the panel relative to the structure, or totally rigid.

The fixing device of the invention has attractive advantages in terms of cost of production and installation, while ensuring adequate sealing and fastening conditions.

Claims (12)

1. An attaching device for fastening to a supporting structure at least one rigid panel (1) made of glass, comprising a first side (4) with a through opening, having a truncated cone cross-section, a second side (3) with no opening that is set against and glued to the first side (4) along a common plane (5) on the side opposite the said supporting structure,
   the said opening having a diameter near the supporting structure that is smaller than its diameter near the common plane (5)
   the said attaching device comprising a long connecting element (8) with a proximal end (9) turned towards the rigid panel (1) and a long end (11) turned towards the said supporting structure, and having means for making it integral with the said supporting structure,
   the said attaching device having the proximal end (9) of the long element (8) associated:

   firstly with stop means cooperating with a complementary surface of the said opening, provided in the first side (4) of the rigid panel (1), comprising an annular element (17) which has an exterior surface (19) with a truncated cone shape, a shape complementary to the said opening of the first side (4) and which abuts against the interior peripheral surface of the said through opening of the first side (4) of the rigid panel (1),

   and secondly, with locking means (12),

   characterised in that the said annular element (17) is a ring made of elastically deformable material, such as aluminium or the like, with a slot (20) and edges (24,25), so that, by bringing the edges (24-25) closer to each other, the larger diameter of the ring (17) becomes slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening provided in the distal side (4) of the rigid laminated panel (1).
2. An attaching device according to claim 1, characterised in that the said annular element (17) is adapted to cooperate with the said locking means (12).
3. An attaching device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the proximal end (9) of the said long element (8) is linked to the said locking means (12) so as to be able to be blocked at an angle in relation to an axis perpendicular to the panel (1).
4. An attaching device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the proximal end (9) of the long element (8) is a ball.
5. An attaching device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a lock washer (16) is screwed so as to abut against the proximal part of the spherical head (9) of the long element (8).
6. An attaching device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the proximal end (9) of the said linking long element (8), when locked, is adapted to be made integral with the annular element (17) so as to leave no degree of freedom to the panel (1).
7. An attaching device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking means (12) comprise a substantially cylindrical shell (13) adapted to be made integral with the said annular element (17), and associated with a nut (14) for locking the cylindrical shell (13) to the sides (3,4), the nut being located on the distal surface (15) of the side (4).
8. An attaching device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the thickness in the transverse direction of the said annular element (17) is less than or equal to the thickness of the first side (4).
9. An attaching device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the annular element (17) has holes (26, 27) for bringing closer together the edges (24, 25) of the slot (20) of the said element (17).
10. An attaching device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the annular element (17) has recesses (21, 22, 23) allowing the elastic deformation of the ring (17) in the direction of the circumference.
11. An attaching device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that sealing joints (7) fix the double glazing (6) at some distance from the laminated panel assembly (3,4).
12. A method for installing the attaching device according to claims 1 to 11 wherein:

    First of all:

    - through holes are made on the distal side (4)

    - the proximal side (3) with no opening and the distal side (4) with an opening are set against each other and held by a film made of plastic, resin or the like.

    - for each opening made on the distal side (4), a deformable annular stopping ring (17) is inserted.

    Secondly:

    - sealing joints are placed to attach the double glazing side (6) at some distance from the laminated panel assembly (3,4).

    - once the ring (17) has been placed in the opening, the tightening forces that were applied earlier on the ring (17) are released.

    - the tightening forces are applied on the ring (17), using holes (26,27) provided on the upper surface of the ring (17), on either side of the opening (20), with a tool comprising two arms adapted to come closer to each other, for example in a tangential direction, to lead to the reciprocal coming closer of the edges (24, 25) of the opening (20).

    Thirdly:

    - the locking shell (13) is made to enter inside the ring (17)

    - beforehand, the long element (8) and the lock washer (16) are inserted in the locking shell (13)

    - the locking shell (13) is attached to the ring (17).

    - the shell (13), long element (8) and washer (16) assembly is screwed until the washer (16) and the shell (13) are more or less on the common plane (5) between the proximal side (3) and the distal side (4).

    - the sealing washer (14a) is placed on the shell (13) so that the said washer rests on the distal surface (15) of the distal side (4),

    - on the shell (13), the lock nut (14) is screwed so as to block the shell (13) in position relative to the double glazing assembly (3,4), by pressing the sealing washer (14a).

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